Electronic game system with wireless controller

• US 5,806,849 A
• Filed: 02/17/1994
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Rutkowski, Ricky Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Kerry
• Application Number:
  US08/194,935
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 273/434, 273/438, 273/85 G, 273/437, 273/DIG. 28, 345/158, 345/169, 434/350, 434/351
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port

Abstract

An electronic game system includes a game console, which accepts a game cartridge and runs the games stored therein, and a wireless controller for controlling actions in the game. The wireless controller includes a radio frequency transmitter for sending control signals to the console, and the console includes a receiver for receiving the control signals from the controller. Because the controller uses radio frequency signals instead of infrared signals to send information to the console, the controller may be operated at a large distance from the console. Thus, the game system of the invention may be used in long range applications wherein the console and the controller need to be separated by a relatively large distance.

Claims

1. In an electronic game system comprising a main console for running a game program, a controller for use in said system for sending control signals to said console, said controller comprising:

a user interface for detecting input from a user and generating control data in response to said input;

an encoder for converting said control data into serial data;

a radio frequency transmitter for transforming said serial data into a first set of radio frequency signals;

an antenna coupled to said transmitter for sending said radio frequency signals to said console; and

a communication means coupled to said antenna for receiving and transforming a second set of radio frequency signals into a first set of audio signals, and for transforming a second set of audio signals into a third set of radio frequency signals and transmitting said third set of radio frequency signals.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first set of audio signal is contained in the second set of audio signals.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein said communication means comprises:

a microphone for converting audio signals into electrical signals;

a modulator coupled to said microphone for converting the electrical signals into said third set of radio frequency signals; and

a second transmitter coupled to said modulator for sending said third set of radio frequency signals to said antenna for broadcasting.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein said communication means further comprises:

a receiver coupled to said antenna for receiving said second set of radio frequency signals from said antenna;

a demodulator coupled to said receiver for converting said second set of radio frequency signals into a second set of electrical signals; and

a speaker coupled to said demodulator for transforming said second set of electrical signals into audio signals.

5. An electronic game console, comprising:

a game unit for executing a game program; and

a controller interface for receiving and processing radio frequency control signals from at least one controller, said controller interface comprising;

a receiver for receiving and transforming said radio frequency control signals into serial data signals;

a decoder coupled to said receiver for converting said serial data signals into parallel data signals; and

an interface control coupled to said game unit and said decoder for receiving a code from said game unit and determining whether said code is valid, and in response to a determination that said code is invalid, said interface control is inactivated to inhibit passage of said parallel data signals to said game unit.

6. The electronic game console of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of storage devices coupled to said decoder for receiving and storing said parallel data signals, and coupled to said interface control for providing said parallel data signals to said interface control.

7. The electronic game console of claim 6, wherein said interface control is coupled to said game unit via a set of select lines and a set of data lines, and said interface control multiplexing said data lines to send said parallel data signals from said storage devices to said game unit.

8. An electronic game system, comprising:

a game unit for executing a game program;

a controller interface for receiving and processing a first set of radio frequency control signals to derive parallel data signals, said controller interface coupled to said game unit for receiving a code from said game unit and determining whether said code is valid, and in response to a determination that said code is invalid, at least a portion of said controller interface is inactivated to inhibit passage of said parallel data signals to said game unit; and

at least one controller for sending said radio frequency control signals to said controller interface.

9. The game system of claim 8, wherein said controller interface is inactivated to prevent the passage of said parallel data signals to said game unit.

10. The game system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of storage devices coupled to said decoder for receiving and storing said parallel data signals, and coupled to said controller interface for providing said parallel data signals to said controller interface.

11. The game system of claim 10, wherein said interface control is coupled to said game unit via a set of select lines and a set of data lines, said interface control multiplexing said data lines to send said parallel data signals from said storage devices to said game unit.

12. The game system claim 8, wherein said controller further comprising a communication means coupled to an antenna for receiving and transforming a second set of radio frequency signals into audio signals, and for transforming a second set of audio signals into a third set of radio frequency signals and transmitting said third set of radio frequency signals, said communication means allowing a user to speak with other users using said controller.

13. The game system of claim 12, wherein said communication means comprises:

a microphone for converting said second set of audio signals into electrical signals;

a modulator for converting the electrical signals into said third set of radio frequency signals; and

a transmitter for sending said third set of radio frequency signals to said antenna for broadcasting.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein said communication means further comprises:

a receiver for receiving said second set of radio frequency signals from said antenna;

a demodulator for converting said second set of radio frequency signals into a second set of electrical signals; and

a speaker for transforming said second set of electrical signals into said audio signals.